As the regional hub of Northern Tasmania, the City of Launceston secured a grant from the Tasmanian Government's Northern Gateway Improvements program to deliver the Gateway which will be a prominent public art piece located on the Southern Outlet.

The statement piece will welcome visitors and locals alike to our vibrant city and the broader Northern Tasmanian region. Specifically, this project will deliver an iconic public artwork that provides an impactful and memorable experience for all who access or pass through the area.

The public artwork is intended to celebrate Launceston as the gateway to Tasmania's northern region and convey an artist's interpretation of Launceston's identity as a city.

To ensure that a range of artists can apply for the design of the artwork, the City of Launceston has engaged Urban Art Projects (UAP) to manage the project, including the construction and installation of the artwork.

The project includes:

1. A public Expression of Interest (EOI) process which will seek responses from artists with a demonstrated connection to Launceston. An artist selection panel comprised of a variety of subject matter experts will shortlist applicants to three artists, who will be work with UAP to further develop paid concept artworks. The community will be invited to provide the artists with feedback on what Launceston means to them.
2. Two artists and concept designs will be selected to go to a public vote.
3. The preferred concept selected by the community will be raised at a council meeting for endorsement by elected members.
4. The endorsed artist will continue to work with UAP to bring their concept to life, with installation of the artwork on the Southern Outlet proposed for late 2026.

The artwork will be located on the Midland Highway’s Southern Outlet, near the Pipeworks Road overpass. The site is a highly visible, high traffic location which requires input from multiple stakeholders and consideration for any special design requirements.

Click here to view the location on an interactive map.

Alternatively check out the site location and map view below.

The Gateway projects aim to support Tasmania’s visitor economy by providing upgrades at key entry points to reflect the unique character and tourism offerings of each Tasmanian region.

As the City of Launceston’s main road for access into and through the city, over 19,000 inbound traffic movements per day occur on the Midlands Highway to Launceston. The crest of the Southern Outlet serves residents and visitors with the first snapshot view of the city and is the most visible sense of arrival to the city.

Following this Stage 1 Expression of Interest (EOI) phase, three artists will be selected to progress to Stage 2 Concept Design in a paid competition process.

Two artists' concepts will be selected for a public vote. The artwork that receives the most votes will then progress to a detailed design and construction phase.

The City of Launceston have engaged Urban Art Projects (UAP) to coordinate the commissioning, project management and fabrication of the artwork. ERA Planning & Environment will work alongside UAP to conduct community stakeholder engagement.

The Gateway Program is funded by a grant from the Tasmanian Government under the Northern Gateway Improvement program.

Launceston is increasingly recognised for its vibrant arts and cultural activities. Public art is one way that we capture imagination, recognise landmarks, start conversations, and express creativity, creating art that is a source of pride and accessible to all.

Following extensive community engagement, Council adopted its Public Art Strategy 2023 - 2031 in March 2023. The Strategy presents a vision to advance public art across Launceston and develop a range of public art programs for the benefit of residents and visitors.

City of Launceston's Public Art Strategy vision:

Public art enhances our shared civic spaces, expressing our evolving sense of identity and place. A diverse range of creative outcomes forge strong connections to community and environment, expressing stories, cultures, and character. Highly visible and accessible, public art plays an important role in achieving and demonstrating our vision for Launceston as a city of inspired people, working together to create the best outcomes for our community.